World War II in striking color photos

The road to Saint-Aubin-sur Mer has been closed due to fighting in the area. June 1944. Without much success the German Army was trying to prevent the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British 3rd Division on Juno Beach. To the left is an amphibious vehicle (DUKW). Next to it is a camera man from the team of George Stevens. Normandy, France. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

The road to Saint-Aubin-sur Mer has been closed due to fighting in the area. June 1944. Without much success the German Army was trying to prevent the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British

The road to Saint-Aubin-sur Mer has been closed due to fighting in the area. June 1944. Without much success the German Army was trying to prevent the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British 3rd Division on Juno Beach. To the left is an amphibious vehicle (DUKW). Next to it is a camera man from the team of George Stevens. Normandy, France. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

The road to Saint-Aubin-sur Mer has been closed due to fighting in the area. June 1944. Without much success the German Army was trying to prevent the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British

World War II is often recalled in black and white, but it was very much in color for those who witnessed it first-hand.

The color of uniforms, of trees, the sky, ammunition, of enemy soldiers and their equipment, of blood and the faces of those who died were all on stark display for the soldiers and others who saw the war unfold in front of their eyes.

Black and white would have been a precious respite from the brutal life some many endured during the war.

If you ever wondered why Americans celebrate Memorial Day, take a look at these four facts that dive into the holiday’s long history. 1) It began with the Civil War 2) General Logan 3) Decoration Day 4) 1971

Media: Wibbitz

Gathered from the digital catacombs of Getty Images, the photos above follow the war around the globe. From the seas of the Pacific to the forests and cities of France to the plains of Eastern Europe, the images captured the true color of the war.